Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-03-19
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, March II 1887.

Lent and the adjournment Of Con-
gress have made great calm in the
erst- while busy social world of the
Capital. The change is especially
at the White House, which
has been the scene of almost constant
and brilliant official Inequalities since
the beginning Of the season. Its mis-
tress (since the departure of her
mother and death Of her grandmoth-
cry has spent most of the time at their
country home, to which the Presi-
dent drives after the duties ofthe day
are over, returning in the morning.
Mrs. Cleveland is a remarkably
amiable woman, and she has constant
need of this attribute in her present
position. Every day during the past
winter she has received quantities of
notes, cards, letters, aud everything
else in the shape of a communication,
and, as a young lady visiting at the
White House at that time remarked,
"she really tried to answer themall."
Then people would come to see her
at all sorts of inconvenient hours and
she would sometimes ask the usher
if they were old or young. If they
were old people she would go down
to see them no matter when they
came.
/ The President is now giving his at
tention to the selection of Interstate
Commerce Commissioners from
among the hundreds of names that
have been recommended to him.
Much of the delay in announcing the
appointments is due to his desire to
select the best possible men for the
positions, and in this he has been con.
siderably restricted by not being able
to get the best qualified men to serve
at the moderate salaries fixed by law
The law provides that it shall &C
into effect sixty days after its passage
The time will expire on the fourth o.
April, and as it is desirable that the
Commissioners should have some
time for organization and consulta
ton before that time, it is probable
that the appointments will be an
nounced some time this week. Moth
ing has been made known at thu
White House as to who will consti
tute the Commission, but it is the be
lief that Col. Morrison, of Illinois
Judge Cooley, of Michigan, and Col
Bragg, of Alabama, will be three o
the men selected.
Some of the most energetic and pub
lies pirited citizens of Washington ar
discussing the feasibility of holding
carnival here at the conclusion of tn
National Drill in May, such as an
nually takes place on Mardi Gras il
New Orleans. Advocates of tn
scheme urge that unless the carniva
be pushed through now it will be i'm
possible to hold one for four years
The Presidential campaign and tn
Inauguration ceremonies will furnis
displays and draw upon private purs
strings sufficiently for the next tw
years, and the third year will witnes
, the grand knights Templar conclavt
1t is estimated that any creditabl
carnival will necessitate an outlay {
$4,000, and in order to save expens
it is proposed to buy or hire the CO.
tunes and cars of the New Orlear
Knights of Menus and Proteus.
Capt. Eads, who was one of ii
best known men in America, h;
been especially we'll known in Wasl
ington for some years past. The Fac
"Jetty SYSTEM" which has figure
before Congress for so many year
attracted more attention than an
, other private or corporate businesSb
/. fore that body in the last decade and
half.
1t issaid at the Mexican Legatio
here that the death of Capt. Eads wi
y not interfere with the status of Il
concession made to him by the Mex
n can Government for a ship railws
:, across the Peninsula of Tehuantepe
e The concession included both Cap
/. Eads and his associates in the ente
r prise, and remains in force for Il
- period Ofninety-nine years. Ofcour
= his death causes some speculation
!. to the probable fate of the scheme,
it may be very difficult to find son
II one equally qualified to carry out Il
the project.
Mr.. COnnery, who has Just been a
1t pointed to the Mexican mission, h
. not declined the honor, as wasrepol
k ed, buthas accepted the position. TT
As rumor about his refusal originated